• Question: if we had no stem cells in our finger what would happen to our finger?

    Asked by ashleyspicer to Matt on 22 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Matthew Tomlinson

      Matthew Tomlinson answered on 22 Nov 2013:

      Well, as the cells start to die they wouldn’t be replaced and the finger would start to die. I don’t know how many stem cells are in a finger, but I’m sure there are some. I think what would be most likely to happen though is that stem cells from other parts of the body would migrate to the finger to rebuild it. The body is very good at repairing itself and the cells talk to each other chemically, so I think the finger cells would call for help from other cells in the body.

      I hope that answers your question!

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